“Are you okay?” I ask, refusing to let go of her until I have to.
“Right as rain, sweetie.”
Emotion clogs my throat. “Why is Christopher helping with Penny?”
Carol stiffens slightly, but I notice it. I pull away from her so I can see her face. If she’s struggling, I need to know. Her eyes travel over to the oven, as if she’s checking on the cooking muffins. I know it’s because she’s avoiding eye contact.
Why?
“Carol…”
She chuckles and waves me off. “I’m fine. You know how Penny is. Loves everyone. Even loves Brandon, the mailman. Of course, that’s because he always shows up with a lollipop for her.”
Carol is right. Penny clings to anyone and everyone. My guess is it’s because our mother is emotionally detached, thoughshe’s less so with Penny than anyone. Still, the kid’s getting her love elsewhere.
Kind of like me?
I briefly think of Owen’s soft lips on my breast, tongue teasing my nipple, and a blast of heat burns over my skin.
Or maybe it’s just the oven heating up the kitchen.
Liar.
The ride home, with Penny babbling happily behind me in her car seat, my spirits lift some. Today was a weird day, but I don’t have to continue to let it bring me down. I’m also determined to break the silence between me and Owen. I need to know how he feels about last night. Also, I want his promised hugs when I’m down.
Up ahead, I notice a silver sedan parked in front of a Wendy’s. When I pass, its headlights bounce as it drives out of the lot and onto the road behind me. All the hairs on my arms stand on end.
Is it him?
The creep who was at Carol’s?
And now he’s following me?
My blood pumps hard and fast as I apply my foot on the gas, hoping to evade my follower. While alone at Dad’s, I spent a lot of time traveling down true crime podcast rabbit holes. I’m suspicious of everyone now.
When a light turns yellow, I accelerate, recklessly running through it as it turns red. I’d normally not do something so stupid with my sister in the car, but the sedan freaks me out. I let out a rush of air when I notice they get stuck at the red light. I’m able to turn down a street and then another, hopefully losingthem altogether and for good. By the time I get to Owen’s—er, home—I’m confident I’m no longer being followed.
Once inside, and stripped of our coats, me and Penny make our way to the kitchen that’s bustling with madness. Owen is having a playful conversation with Cason, who’s sitting on the counter like he’s six instead of a full-grown teenager. Addison and Rhett are arguing over who gets the last Coke. The smell of whatever Owen is cooking makes my stomach growl.
“Oh, hey, girls,” Owen greets, voice cheery and smile wide when he sees us. “Come join the craziness. My oldest and youngest are about to duel it out over the last can of Coke. Are you a spectator or a contender?”
“I’ll have water,” I say, smirking. “Where’s Mom? Her car is here.”
Owen’s easy smile falters and he clears his throat. “In her room. Headache. Why don’t you get Penny in her highchair? I can put you to work prepping the salad.”
He’s acting as if everything is normal. Nothing about this family dynamic is normal. And, furthermore, nothing about what transpired between the two of us was normal either. How can Owen be so chill and unaffected?
Sickness roils in my gut, chasing away my appetite. Maybe our moment last night was more one-sided than I thought. He’s a grown, experienced man. Getting sexual with a woman is probably second nature to him and not something that needs to be read into.
For me, it stopped time.
It’s all I can think about.
But, I’m also, inexperienced and attention deprived.
Oh, God, I really hope it wasn’t something I blew up bigger in my mind.
Dinner, much like school today, goes by in a blur. By the time the kitchen is cleaned, and Penny has been captured by Addison, Owen has disappeared.
